Braves To Leave Richmond in 2009

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Braves To Leave Richmond in 2009; AAA Affiliate To Move Near Atlanta
Topic Started: Wednesday Jan 16 2008, 03:19 PM (157 Views)
WeatherManNX01	Wednesday Jan 16 2008, 03:19 PM Post #1
The Emperor Posts: 12,166 Group: Commissioner Member #4 Joined: December 9, 2005 NFL Team New England Patriots NBA Team Boston Celtics NHL Team Boston Bruins MLS Team New England Revolution NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions	From MiLB: Quote: Braves executive vice president of business operations Mike Plant has spent the past four years attempting to find a suitable facility for the club's Triple-A affiliate. After countless battles with the city of Richmond, Va., and an untold amount of hours evaluating other potential locations throughout the United States, he came to the realization that his best solution would be in his organization's backyard. Gwinnett County isn't exactly next door to Turner Field. But it is just about 30 minutes away and in the eyes of the Braves, this proximity won't prove to be a detriment as much as it will be a positive when they move their Triple-A team there from Richmond for the start of the 2009 season. "It's going to be really successful," Plant said on Tuesday afternoon, after the Gwinnett County Commissioners unanimously approved the construction of a $40 million stadium that will be ready for the Braves around this time next year. Full article. So...what, we're going to have the Atlanta Braves and the...Gwinnett County Braves? I think this continues to show the shift in Major-Minor relations in baseball. In this case, rather than changing affiliates, the teams is simply moving closer to the parent club.



WeatherManNX01	Tuesday May 13 2008, 04:59 PM Post #2
The Emperor Posts: 12,166 Group: Commissioner Member #4 Joined: December 9, 2005 NFL Team New England Patriots NBA Team Boston Celtics NHL Team Boston Bruins MLS Team New England Revolution NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions	From the Richmond Times Dispatch: Quote: Minor League Baseball officials today and tomorrow will get a feel for Richmond, its baseball stadium and potential owner/operators of a new franchise. Minor League Baseball will play a significant role in deciding what franchise moves into Richmond after the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A affiliate relocates to Gwinnett, Ga., following this season. "What we want to present to them is that we are very interested, we want to continue to support professional baseball, and we want to have somebody in here in 2009," said Mike Berry, general manager of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, which controls The Diamond. A t this stage, Berry serves as the "facilitator" -- his word -- for communication between Minor League Baseball and Richmond and its surrounding counties. A few representatives from Minor League Baseball, based in St. Petersburg, Fla., will hold meetings today and tomorrow with area officials and others interested in bringing a franchise here. Full article. According to Baseball Stadium Digest, the International League has no teams looking to relocate, but the Erie SeaWolves and Connecticut Defenders (both AA, Eastern League) could move to Richmond. Personally, I would prefer both teams remain where they are, though I haven't looked into things like attendance for the two. I'd rather the Eastern League expand than move, though I also don't immediately see a second expansion city. The other possibility, and I see this one slightly more likely at the moment, is for an independent league to step in. The Atlantic League right now has eight teams, all based not too far apart - York and Lancaster, PA; Camden and Somerset, New Jersey; Waldorf, Maryland, to name a few. Richmond, while not exactly near the Philly-Baltimore area, is not too far off the beaten path, and it wouldn't be too hard to work the city into the schedule. The ALPB has a list of other potential expansion cities, though I could see them moving into The Diamond for a few seasons until a new park is built and using a road team (as they did before both York and Southern Maryland joined) as a tenth team until they can find a home.



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